10 days to go until the 2014 NFL season kicks off and Running the Spread Blog has five more divisions to preview. We've covered the AFC East, NFC North, NFC East and today we'll be breaking down the AFC West, where the 2013 AFC Champion Denver Broncos reside.
2013: 13-3, won AFC West. Lost to Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl.
Key Losses: RB Knowshon Moreno, CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, WR Eric Decker
Key Additions: DE DeMarcus Ware, CD Aqib Talib, WR Emmanuel Sanders, rookie WR Cody Latimer
Toughest Match-ups in 2014: Indianapolis Colts, Kansas City Chiefs, Seattle Seahawks, San Francisco 49ers, New England Patriots
2014 Outcome:
This is a pretty easy choice I think. The high octane offense that we saw in 2013 with Peyton Manning at the reigns, has a new look with Sanders filling the place of Decker who left town for the New York Jets, and Monte Ball now taking over as the true number one at running back. It's going to be tough to repeat what the 2013 Broncos did, and for that reason I don't see them being quite as explosive this season. Still their offense will be dominant again, and they greatly improved themselves defensively with additions like Talib and Ware. The biggest problem for the Broncos last year was that they couldn't stop anyone, but their offense made up for it by showing no mercy. In the Super Bowl we finally saw them come down to earth and they were blown out. With more defensive pressure and an improved secondary the Broncos will be able to both score and prevent scoring. The biggest questions will be if Manning, at 38, doesn't hit that wall where age starts to break him down, and ifBall is ready to carry the bulk of the load in the running game with Moreno now in Miami. Otherwise Denver should have no problem winning the AFC West again and clinching a top seed in the playoffs with an 11-5 record.
2013: 9-7, third in the AFC West. Lost in the AFC Divisional Round.
Key Losses: CB Derek Cox, QB Charlie Whitehurst, FB Le'Ron McClain
Key Additions: RB Donald Brown, CB Brandon Flowers, QB Kellen Clemens
Toughest Match-ups in 2014: Arizona Cardinals, Seattle Seahawks, Denver Broncos, New England Patriots, San Francisco 49ers.
2014 Outcome:
Last season San Diego started slow and had to go on a late run to make the playoffs. This year they get tested right out of the gate with games against the Arizona Cardinals and the defending champion Seahawks. The Chargers though were playoff ready and were one of very few teams that tamed the Broncos offense last year. They should be even more competitive in 2014, with their biggest obstacle being a rough schedule that includes the NFC West teams. Philip Rivers is a quarterback that flies under the radar because of where he plays but he has thrown for over 4,000 yards in five of the last six seasons. He had a fantastic season last year with 32 touchdowns and just 11 interceptions, the lowest interception total of his career since 2009. As a proven QB I expect he will lead the offense to success once again. Defensively the Chargers added Flowers in the secondary, which is by all means an upgrade. With Dwight
Freeney and Melvin Ingram returning from injury the defensive pass rush
should be much better. I also see Manti Te'o, who's coming off a solid rookie campaign, having an even more impressive sophomore season. When it's all said and done I see San Diego somehow fighting for a 10-6 record and a wild card spot.
2013: 11-5, second in the AFC West. Lost in the AFC Wild-Card Round.
Key Losses: OT Branden Albert, G Jon Asamoah, KR/DB Quintin Demps, DE Tyson Jackson, FS Kendrick Lewis, WR/KR Dexter McCluster, DT Jerrell Powe, OL Geoff Schwartz
Key Additions: WR Weston Dressler, rookie LB Dee Ford, OL Jeff Linkenbach, LB Joe Mays, CB Chris Owens, rookie RB De'Anthony Thomas, DL Vance Walker
Toughest Match-ups in 2014: Denver Broncos, New England Patriots, San Francisco 49ers, San Diego Chargers, Seattle Seahawks, Arizona Cardinals
2014 Outcome:
The Kansas City Chiefs surprised people last year going 11-5 just a year removed from a forgettable 2-14 season. They had a terrific pass rush, a hit or miss secondary and a stable offense that ran through the legs of Jamaal Charles. Their secondary got much worse in the off-season, losing Flowers, who they cut, as well as Lewis. I've said all summer that one of the biggest problems with the Chiefs is that they rely on Charles too much. We'll see how not only his durability holds up this year, but also how opposing defenses cut him off and make the Chiefs' offense predictable. One positive though is the potential of rookie linebacker Dee Ford. When you're compared to Von Miller you must being doing something right. I can see him having a big rookie year and adding another threat to the Kansas City pass rush. Still I think the weak secondary and one man offense will bring the Chiefs back to reality in 2014. They're average and a 7-9 will show that.
2013: 4-12, fourth in AFC West.
Key Losses: OT Jared Veldheer, DE Lamarr Houston, RB Rashad Jennings, CB Philip Adams, WR Jacoby Ford, CB Tracy Porter
Key Additions: QB Matt Schaub, rookie LB Khalil Mack, RB Maurice Jones-Drew, DE Justin Tuck, OT Austin Howard, LB Lamarr Woodley, DE Antonio Smith, G Keith Boothe, WR James Jones, DE C.J. Wilson, T Donald Penn, CB Tarell Brown, CB Carlos Rogers
Toughest Match-ups in 2014: New England Patriots, Miami Dolphins, San Diego Chargers, Arizona Cardinals, Seattle Seahawks, Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, San Francisco 49ers
2014 Outcome:
Playing in a division with three playoff teams from 2013 gives the Oakland Raiders the short straw. Not only that but they just aren't that good. Matt Schaub bouncing back from a horrific final season in Houston, that saw him get benched, is literally a coin flip. I have no idea. He definitely lacks the weapons that would help the cause. Having both Darren McFadden and Jones-Drew will make their backfield attack more allusive, with the two proven backs sharing reps. Still that won't be enough offensively to keep up with anyone in the league, let alone their division. Defensively I see Oakland making progress. Their first round draft pick, Mack, will make the transition to the NFL and be dominant at that. Add in some veterans around him like Woodley and Tuck to help the pass rush, and the defense has some life to it. Still their old roster probably won't hold up for the entirety of the season. A lot of their success hinges on Schaub's ability to lead the offense. If that somehow happens they could manage a .500 record, but realistically I think 5-11 is fair.
1. Denver Broncos
2013: 13-3, won AFC West. Lost to Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl.
Key Losses: RB Knowshon Moreno, CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, WR Eric Decker
Toughest Match-ups in 2014: Indianapolis Colts, Kansas City Chiefs, Seattle Seahawks, San Francisco 49ers, New England Patriots
2014 Outcome:
This is a pretty easy choice I think. The high octane offense that we saw in 2013 with Peyton Manning at the reigns, has a new look with Sanders filling the place of Decker who left town for the New York Jets, and Monte Ball now taking over as the true number one at running back. It's going to be tough to repeat what the 2013 Broncos did, and for that reason I don't see them being quite as explosive this season. Still their offense will be dominant again, and they greatly improved themselves defensively with additions like Talib and Ware. The biggest problem for the Broncos last year was that they couldn't stop anyone, but their offense made up for it by showing no mercy. In the Super Bowl we finally saw them come down to earth and they were blown out. With more defensive pressure and an improved secondary the Broncos will be able to both score and prevent scoring. The biggest questions will be if Manning, at 38, doesn't hit that wall where age starts to break him down, and ifBall is ready to carry the bulk of the load in the running game with Moreno now in Miami. Otherwise Denver should have no problem winning the AFC West again and clinching a top seed in the playoffs with an 11-5 record.
2. San Diego Chargers
2013: 9-7, third in the AFC West. Lost in the AFC Divisional Round.
Key Losses: CB Derek Cox, QB Charlie Whitehurst, FB Le'Ron McClain
Key Additions: RB Donald Brown, CB Brandon Flowers, QB Kellen Clemens
Toughest Match-ups in 2014: Arizona Cardinals, Seattle Seahawks, Denver Broncos, New England Patriots, San Francisco 49ers.
2014 Outcome:
3. Kansas City Chiefs
2013: 11-5, second in the AFC West. Lost in the AFC Wild-Card Round.
Key Losses: OT Branden Albert, G Jon Asamoah, KR/DB Quintin Demps, DE Tyson Jackson, FS Kendrick Lewis, WR/KR Dexter McCluster, DT Jerrell Powe, OL Geoff Schwartz
Key Additions: WR Weston Dressler, rookie LB Dee Ford, OL Jeff Linkenbach, LB Joe Mays, CB Chris Owens, rookie RB De'Anthony Thomas, DL Vance Walker
Toughest Match-ups in 2014: Denver Broncos, New England Patriots, San Francisco 49ers, San Diego Chargers, Seattle Seahawks, Arizona Cardinals
2014 Outcome:
4. Oakland Raiders
2013: 4-12, fourth in AFC West.
Key Losses: OT Jared Veldheer, DE Lamarr Houston, RB Rashad Jennings, CB Philip Adams, WR Jacoby Ford, CB Tracy Porter
Key Additions: QB Matt Schaub, rookie LB Khalil Mack, RB Maurice Jones-Drew, DE Justin Tuck, OT Austin Howard, LB Lamarr Woodley, DE Antonio Smith, G Keith Boothe, WR James Jones, DE C.J. Wilson, T Donald Penn, CB Tarell Brown, CB Carlos Rogers
Toughest Match-ups in 2014: New England Patriots, Miami Dolphins, San Diego Chargers, Arizona Cardinals, Seattle Seahawks, Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, San Francisco 49ers
2014 Outcome:
Playing in a division with three playoff teams from 2013 gives the Oakland Raiders the short straw. Not only that but they just aren't that good. Matt Schaub bouncing back from a horrific final season in Houston, that saw him get benched, is literally a coin flip. I have no idea. He definitely lacks the weapons that would help the cause. Having both Darren McFadden and Jones-Drew will make their backfield attack more allusive, with the two proven backs sharing reps. Still that won't be enough offensively to keep up with anyone in the league, let alone their division. Defensively I see Oakland making progress. Their first round draft pick, Mack, will make the transition to the NFL and be dominant at that. Add in some veterans around him like Woodley and Tuck to help the pass rush, and the defense has some life to it. Still their old roster probably won't hold up for the entirety of the season. A lot of their success hinges on Schaub's ability to lead the offense. If that somehow happens they could manage a .500 record, but realistically I think 5-11 is fair.
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